Pristine Protection America’s Huge New Underwater Park

The Pacific Remote Islands National Marine Monument— about 470,000 square miles of ocean surrounding a couple of remote U.S. Pacific islands—is now officially set aside to protect its pristine habitat from deep-sea mining and commercial fishing.

Although smaller than the nearly 800,000 square miles of its original plan, the park is still twice the size of Texas. In a final compromise, fishermen will have access to the waters around half of the islands and atolls, while the other half remains protected. Only 2 percent of the entire Pacific enjoys similar protection.